The Queen moves close to position of 'defender of faiths'

The Queen yesterday called on all faiths to work together to bridge the divide between young and old people.

In a break with tradition, the Monarch's Christmas broadcast also featured footage of Muslims praying in a mosque for the first time.

Images were shown of men kneeling and praying in the main hall of the London Central Mosque near Regent's Park in London during Friday prayers.

The camera focused on a young Muslim boy, who raised his head smiling to look around before returning to his prayers.

There were also scenes of the opening of Europe's largest Hindu temple the Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) in Tividale in the West Midlands and from a Jewish reception at St James's Palace attended by the Queen and the Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks.

The unprecedented footage is significant as the Queen is the head of the Church of England and "Defender of the Faith".

The broadcast moves her closer her son Charles' strongly held view that the monarch should be defender of "faiths".

The Queen added that advances in modern science meant that elderly people were remaining active for longer, but that the fast pace of modern life was placing families under pressure.

But she called on young people to show more respect for the elderly and for old people to make more effort to understand the pressures of modern living.

She said: "The pressures of modern life sometimes seem to be weakening the links which have traditionally kept us together as families and communities.

"As children grow up and develop their own sense of confidence and independence in the ever-changing technological environment, there is always the danger of a real divide opening up between young and old, based on unfamiliarity, ignorance or misunderstanding.

"It is worth bearing in mind that all of our faith communities encourage the bridging of that divide."

The Monarch went on to stress that it was easy to focus on the differences between religions rather than what they had in common.

She said: "The wisdom and experience of the great religions point to the need to nurture and guide the young, and to encourage respect for the elderly.

"It is very easy to concentrate on the differences between the religious faiths and to forget what they have in common - people of different faiths are bound together by the need to help the younger generation to become considerate and active citizens.

"And there is another cause for hope that we can do better in the future at bridging the generation gap.

"As older people remain more active for longer, the opportunities to look for new ways to bring young and old together are multiplying."

The Queen touched on her 80th birthday celebrations this year in the address, which was broadcast across the Commonwealth,

thanking the public for their generous response.

She was also shown chatting informally to schoolchildren at Southwark Cathedral in London as she helped them make a triptych collage of a nativity scene.

Recalling meeting young people over the year, she said: "I am impressed by their energy and vitality, and by their ambition to learn and to travel.

"It makes me wonder what contribution older people can make to help them realise their ambitions."

To laughs from the production crew, the Queen joked: "I am reminded of a lady of about my age who was asked by an earnest, little granddaughter the other day 'Granny, can you remember the Stone Age?'

"Whilst that may be going a bit far, the older generation are able to give a sense of context as well as the wisdom of experience which can be invaluable.

"Such advice and comfort are probably needed more often than younger people admit or older people recognise."

Speaking about the birth of Jesus, the Queen added: "The birth of a baby brings great happiness - but then the business of growing up begins.

"It is a process that starts within the protection and care of parents and other members of the family - including the older generation."

She added: "As with any team, there is strength in combination: what grandparent has not wished for the best possible upbringing for their grandchildren or felt an enormous sense of pride at their achievements?"

In 2006, the Queen saw both grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry graduate from Sandhurst as Army officers, while granddaughter Zara Phillips triumphed in the World Equestrian Games.

It was also a year when the royals gathered for close family celebrations to mark the Queen's 80th birthday - something which is said to have inspired the Queen's chosen theme of bridging links between the generations.

She was dressed in a lime green outfit and wore a brooch depicting flowers in a basket which was a present from her parents following the birth of the Prince of Wales in 1948.

The Queen's speech, which was recorded at Southwark cathedral, was available as a podcast for the first time this year - as an example of how the monarch is trying to bridge the generation gap herself.

The link appeared on the monarchy's website under the grand title "The Royal Podcast".

The Queen also sent a separate radio message to the armed services and their families yesterday morning and praised the courage of those stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As head of the Armed Forces, the sovereign said: "Our country asks a lot of you and your families." She went on to pay tribute to the "enormous contribution" they made "at great personal risk".

It is the second time in recent years that the Queen has recorded a separate message for troops in addition to her annual December 25 broadcast.